What is Constructivism?

Constructivism is a well-developed theory of how the mind works, blending the ideas of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. These two ideas create a definition of Constructivism that utilizes and keys in on both the individual process of creating ones own understandings about new material (Piagetian), but also acknowledges the value and contributions of collaboration and building understandings in a community setting (Vygotskyian).

Fully constructivist classrooms should focus on approaching students at their level, instructing them through tried and true methods that work at their age range and development. At the same time, it should acknowledge and represent the importance of communication and interaction in forming these complex understandings of knowledge. Only through a combined metacognitive understanding of the way knowledge is constructed, does Constructivism itself become a valuable tool in the classroom.

Most importantly: constructivist classrooms reject the idea of the Banking Model of Education, which views the teacher as a "Sage on the Stage" depositing educational capital into the brains of the students (see Additional Resources for more information on the Banking Model of Education). Rather, Constructivists view the understanding of the world as an individual construction, developed through individual experiences and interactions within the world.